Prefabricated building structure including metal framework and prefabricated molded panels of cementitious material

ABSTRACT

The open metal framework includes upright components, such as columns, pillars and posts having substantially flat side surfaces, and includes modular length transverse components, such as relatively heavy main beams and relatively lighter connecting beams having flat side and end surfaces. Connecting means, such as bolts and the like secure the flat end surfaces of the transverse components to the flat side surfaces of the upright components and to flat side surfaces of other transverse components to form skeleton wall and floor sections having openings defined by substantially flat surfaces of the components. At least two sets of prefabricated molded modular length panels, of cementitious material, are mounted on the sections and close at least some of the openings therein. At least the transverse components have longitudinal lips, and mechanical means are engaged with these lips and secure the panels to at least the transverse components. The panels have a composition similar to conventional masonry and exterior panels may be formed in the same manner as ceramic tiles. The lower edges of the panels rest on projecting plates on lower transverse components of the framework.

Waited @tates Patent 1191" n11 3,739,9 2.41

Lnnginotti 5] May 29, 3973 1 PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURE INCLUDING METAL FRAMEWORK AND PREFABRICATED MOLDED PANELS OF CEMENTITIOUS MATERHAL 3,638,380 2/ 1972 Perri ..52/236 PrimaryEx m inerQPrice C. Paw, Jr Attorney-John J. McGlew and Alfred E. Page ABSTRACT The open metal framework includes upright components, such as columns, pillars and posts having substantially flat side surfaces, and includes modular length transverse components, such as relatively heavy main beams and relatively lighter connecting beams having flat side and end surfaces. Connecting means, suchas bolts and the like secure the flat end surfaces of the transverse components to the flat side surfaces of the upright components and to flat side surfaces of other transverse components to form skeleton wall and floor sections having openings defined by substantially flat surfaces of the components. At least two sets of prefabricated molded modular length panels, of cementitious material, are mounted on the sections and close at least some of the openings therein. At least the transverse components have longitudinal lips, and mechanical'means are engaged with these lips and secure the panels to at least the transverse components. The panels have a composition similar to conventional masonry and exterior panels may be formed in the same manner as ceramic tiles. The lower edges of the panels rest on projecting plates on lower transverse components of the framework.

22 Claims, 48 Drawing Figures [76] Inventor: Enrico Longinotti, Viale D. Giannotti 8 l Firenze, Italy [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,627

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 23, 1970 Italy .9798 A/7O June l2, 1971 Italy ...9550 A/7l [52] U.S. Cl. ..52/235, 52/236, 52/259,

. 52/263 [5 l Int. Cl .......E04b 1/38,-EO4b 2/ 88 [58] Field of Search "52/236,235, 234, 52/250, 259, 261, 263, 262, 267, 268,269

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,945,124 1 1934 Strauss '.52 259 x 2,940,294 6/1960 Carlson ..52/259 X 3,372,519 3/1968 Russell ..52/262 3,562,979 2/1971 Allogly 52/236 x 3,621,635 ll/l97l DeLange ....52/235 r 1' P L L PAIENIE m 2 9 [975 SHEET 01 [1F 21 PATENTEL EPW291975 3 735, 544

SHEET 05 0F 21 Fig-15 87 A PATENTEL HAY 2 9 I973 SHEET 08 [1F 21 PATENTED W 2 91973 sum 11 [1F 21 PATENTEW-Y291973 3,735,544

SHEET 12 0F 21 PATENTEB 1'1291975 3,735,544

SHEET 18 0F 21 Fig.42

PATENTEI; MY 2 91975 SHEET 18 OF 21 mmw @w 

1. A prefabricated building structure comprising, in combination, a supporting framework including columns and floor beams interconnected to each other and defining openings to be closed; upright components, having substantially flat side surfaces, and modular length transverse components, having substantially flat end surfaces; connecting means securing the flat end surfaces of said transverse components to the flat side surfaces of said upright components to form wall skeletons having flat limiting surfaces; means connecting said wall skeletons to said framework and to each other to define substantially rectangular openings; at least two sets of prefabricated molded modular length panels, of cementitious material, mounted on said wall sections and closing at least some of the openings therein; at least said transverse components having longitudinal flanges thereon; and mechanical means engaged with said flanges and securing said panels to at least said transverse components.
 2. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, including lower transverse components provided with projecting plates engaged by the lower edges of said panels to support said panels.
 3. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, including pairs of spacers adapted to interconnect upright components of adjacent wall skeletons to each other at adjustable distances to compensate for the difference between the overall length of a series of modular skeletons and the length of the opening to be occupied by the series.
 4. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, in which the connection between a wall skeleton and said supporting frame is provided by pins slidably engaged in apertures to provide for relative movement between the wall skeleton and the supporting frame.
 5. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pins are secured to the upright components of a wall skeleton and the apertures are formed in columns of said framework.
 6. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, in which said panels are pressed and molded panels with a precision shape and size, and formed with recessed seats for said mechanical means.
 7. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 6, in which said panels have an exposed surface finished in the manner of ceramic tiles.
 8. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 7, in which said panels have recesses formed on their rear surfaces adjacent their peripheries; pins projecting from said recesses and formed with grooves for the reception of metal wires interconnecting adjacent panels and connecting the panels to the wall skeleton.
 9. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 8, in which said transverse components have longitudinal flanges on their side edges formed with inwardly bent lips at their free edges; and elements formed with two notches opening in opposite directions, one notch being engageable with the lip of a transverse component and the other notch being engageable with a metal wire securing a panel to the wall skeleton.
 10. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 6, in which said panels have, in correspondence on opposite surfaces thereof and along the peripheries of the panels, seating recesses receiving said mechanical means; said recesses opening outwardly and said mechanical means extending from said recesses into engagement with flanges of said transverse components; said recesses having depths such that, when filled with stucco or the like, said mechanical means are completely covered.
 11. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, in which said panels are formed, along their peripheral edges and on their safe surfaces facing the metal structure, recesses at least partially seating insulating layers interposed between said panels and the metal structure; said insulating layers serving to reduce the transmission of physical, particularly accoustic, phenomena.
 12. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, including covering plate members covering the panels forming the exterior walls of said structure to form an impermeable covering; and engagement means secured in apertures of the panels forming the exterior walls; said covering plate members being fixed to said engagement members and closing an interspace.
 13. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, including horizontal panels forming floors and ceilings of said structure; said horizontal panels being substantially identical with said first mentioned wall panels; said framework including supporting frames constructed of horizontal support beams; and means anchoring said horizontal panels to said support beams.
 14. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 1, in which each upright component and each transverse component of said wall skeleton comprises four elongated angles defining an open cage; end plates interconnecting the four angles; and intermediate plates interconnecting the four angles; the legs of said angles being arranged for engagement by said mechanical means for securing the panels to said wall skeletons.
 15. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 14, in which components of said wall skeletons include connection squares; said end plates and said connection squares being formed with projecting tabs serving for centering of the components by cooperation with spaced inwardly facing edges of a component perpendicular to the respective component; said structure including wall guides defining facing spaced inner edges also engageable with said tabs.
 16. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 15, in which each tab extends from an edge of an associated recess; each recess receiving a threaded clamp having a T-head and which is retained between the bottom of the recess and the respective tabs.
 17. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 16, including a pair of flat metal strips extending along the upper and lower sides of a wall skeleton and secured to profiled wall guides; said profiled wall guides being formed with inverted U-contours along each side and defining therebetween a U-shaped central longitudinally extending recess; the tabs of said end plates of the upright components being centered between said inverted U-contours.
 18. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 17, in which end to end contiguous lengths of said flat metal strips and of said guides are interconnected by longitudinally slotted sleeves telescoped in said recesses; and bolts extending through apertures in said substantially flat plates and having T-shaped heads engaged in the slot of said sleeves.
 19. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 18, including side plates formed with projecting centering tabs; threaded clamps securing said side plates to said components of said wall skeletons; said side plates having pins projecting therefrom and slidably engaged in apertures of stirrups secured to columns of said supporting metal framework.
 20. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 19, including additional side plates formed with projecting centering tabs; threaded clamps securing said additional side plates to said components of said wall skeleton; said additional side plates being formed with apertures; tubular spacers accommodated in said apertures; and relatively short connection elements, having a construction corresponding to that of said components, slidably mounted on said tubular spacers and carrying mechanical means engaging panels extending into interspacers between upright components of wall skeletons, which wall skeletons are spaced an adjustable distance apart to compensate the overall length of a series of wall skeletons with respect to the modular lengths of the individual wall skeletons.
 21. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 20, including spacer and connection members between wall skeleton components extending in space laterally spaced relation to form relatively thick outer walls; and plates and counterplates on said spacer and connection members clamping the legs of the angles of the laterally spaced wall skeleton components.
 22. A prefabricated building structure, as claimed in claim 20, in which the columns and beams of the supporting framework are H-columns and beams; plates secured to said columns and beams and having accurately machined surfaces; said plates providing for interconnection of the main and secondary components of said supporting framework in exactly perpendicular relation to each other; said supporting framework including bracing and stiffening tie rods extending between horizontal and vertical components thereof. 